David Letterman Sent This Witty Rejection Letter To Jimmy Kimmel In 2002

Letterman declined an
invitation to appear on Jimmy Kimmel's first late night episode,
but keeps the letter framed on his desk.ABC/"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Jimmy Kimmel, 46, has idolized David Letterman, 66, since the
younger late-night host was a quirky kid growing up in Vegas.

Kimmel has often joked that the only reason he went
into show business was to be friends with Letterman — and
wondered why anyone would watch his show instead of Letterman’s.

So, when Kimmel was coming off four years as co-host of Comedy
Central’s “The Man Show” and about to debut “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
on ABC in 2002, naturally he reached out to
Letterman to be a guest on the show’s premiere episode.

Letterman’s typed response — on personal
stationery — today sits framed on Kimmel’s
desk in his studio office, alongside a photo of his late
grandparents and a picture of himself covered in whipped cream
after popping a fictional zit on Jon Stewart’s forehead.

This is what the letter said. It's from Sept. 23, 2002, and
was uncovered by New York Magazine.

Dear Jimmy,

Thanks for asking me to appear on your premiere.
Unfortunately, I will be out of the country on business. I’m sure
the program will be a success regardless.

Sincerely,

Dave

“His response is hilarious,” Kimmel told New York Magazine. “He’s
not out of the country on business. He knows you know he’s not
out of the country on business and just the words ‘on business’ —
it really makes it a perfect letter for me.”

Ten years later, the two aren’t exactly best buddies, but
Letterman did appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for the first time,
in 2012, as the L.A.-based show broadcast out of Brooklyn after
Hurricane Sandy.

Leading up to the visit, Kimmel said he was “terrified” to interview
Letterman and tried to justify it by saying, “I’m sure for him
it’s nothing more than a nuisance, that he’s just doing it to be
nice.”

But Letterman was a gracious guest as Kimmel showed him photos of
his "Late Night"-themed 18th birthday cake:

ABC/"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

And "L8 Nite" license plate on his first car.

ABC/"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Letterman responded by telling his No. 1 fan, "I’ll be honest
with you, it was troubling. I kept saying to people, ‘Why is he
sucking up to me?’ ... When I was persuaded that there was some
measure of stability here, then I really realized that it was
genuine and I couldn’t appreciate it more."

Letterman added, "In show business, one of the precepts is you're
not really supposed to be nice to people, especially if you have
the same occupation as another person. Jimmy has broken that
precept and has been nothing but generous and courteous and kind
to me."